Folding machine



Aug. 28, 1928.

L. R. TUFTS FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 23, 1926 IHUE LssL e] R. TUI'S;

Patented Aug. 28, 1928. V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LESLEY R. TUFIS, OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLEVELAND FOLD- ING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION F OHIO.

FOLDING MACHINE.

Application led September 23, 1926. Serial No. 137,252.

This invention relates to paper-folding machines and more particularly to improvements in that type of machine in which the paper is folded by a buckling operation, as disclosed in the Johnson Patent No. 893,629, dated July 21, 1908.

The invention has especial reference to an improved form of combined fold plate and deilecting plate with which there are associated positioning devices.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide an improved form of mounting for the fold plate and the delecting plate, together with devices for positioning the same, whereby they may be accurately and quickly located in their proper positions with reference to the feeding and folding rolls.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple form of construction that will be adapted for production at a low cost and, at the same time, be thoroughly reli able in operation.

Other objects of the invention and the features of novelty will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a. portion of a folding machine embodying my invention, the deflecting plate being shown in its inoperative position and the section being on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but/showing the deflecting plate in its operative position and the fold plate in its inoperative position; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, and 11 indicate portions of the frame of the machine on which the rolls 12, 13 and 14 are rotatably mounted in accordance with the usual practice in machines of this type.

The rolls 12 and 13 constitute feeding rolls and the rolls 13 and 14 are the folding rolls for making the fold in the paper. Supporting members 15 and 16 are secured on the inner sides of the members 10 and 11, in inclined position, and slidably support the fold plate 17. This fold plate comprises superimposed plates between Which there is a slot 18 to receive the paper. A stop member 19 is slidably arranged in the slot 18 rand carries 19 is secured in any desired position by means of the nuts 22 on the studs 20.

The defiecting plate is shown at 23 and is .provided with arms 24 at its opposite ends,

which are pivotally mounted on bolts 25 on the fold plate 17, this arrangement pei-'mitting the deflecting plate to be swung from the inoperative position, shown in Fig. 1, to its operative position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The side edges of the fold plate 17 have laterally extending abutments 26 which are adapted to enga e with stops 27 on the frame members 10 an 11, when the fold plate is 1n its operative position, as shown in Fig. 1. These stop members thus serve to accurately position the fold plate in its operative relation to the rolls 12, 13 and 14.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, the sheet of paper is fed into the machine, from the right, between the rolls 12 and 13 and the leading edge of the sheet passes up the slot 18 until it strikes the stop member 19 which causes the paper to buckle 1n the space between rolls 12 and 14, thereby causing the sheet to be folded by the rolls 13 and 14. It will be noted that the deflecting plate 23 is swung back to its inoperative position but, when it is desired to avoid making a fold in the paper, the fold plate is drawn back from its operative position and the deflecting plate swung down to the position shown in Fig. 2, after which the fold plate is allowed to slide down the supports 15 and 16 until the arms 24 strike the stops 28, which are secured to the frame members 10 and 11. These stops accurately locate the deflecting plate 23, with reference to the rolls 12, 13 and 14, so that the sheet will be deflected, from between the rolls 12 and 13 directly tothe rolls 13 and 14, without being permitted to enter the slot 18 in the fold plate.

In constructions heretofore used, it has been customary to have the deflecting plate separate from the fold plate so that, when the deiiecting plate is used, the fold plate is entirely removed from the machine. On the other hand, when the fold plate is used, the deecting plate is entirely removed from the machine. In these prior constructions, the adjustment of the fold plate and the deflecting plate, into roper relation to the feeding and folding ro ls, has required considerable time and skill on the part of the operator but with my improvements, as above described, the fold plate and the deflecting plate are readily located in their proper operative positions Without removlng either from the machine and Without requiring any skill on the part of the operator.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In folding machines, the combination of a frame, an adjustable fold plate, feeding and folding means operatively associated therewith, a defiecting member mounted on said fold plate and having operative and inoperative positions thereon, and stops for definitely locating said fold plate in its operative position or with said deflecting plate in its operative position.

2. In folding machines, the combination of a frame, an adjustable fold-plate, feeding and folding means operatively associated therewith, a deflecting member mounted on said fold plate and having operative and inoperative positions thereon, a stop for definitely locating said fold plate in its operative position, and additional means for definitely locating said fold plate with said defleeting member in operative position.

3. In folding machines, the combination of a frame, an adjustable fold plate, feeding and folding means operatively associated therewith, a detlecting member mounted on said fold plate and. having operative and inoperative positit ,s thereon, a stop for definitely locating said fold plate in its operative position, and additional means for cooperating with said deflectingmembcr to locate tho latter in its operative position and said fold plate in its inoperative position.

4. In folding machines, the combination of a frame, an adjustable fold plate, feeding and folding means operatively associated therewith, a deflecting member mounted on said fold plate and having operative and inoperative positions thereon, a stop ada ted to be engaged by said fold plate to locate 1t in its operative position, and another stop adapted to cooperate with said deflecting plate to locate the latter in its operative position.

5. In folding machines, the combination of a frame, a fold plate slidably mounted thereon, a defleeting plate pivotally mounted on said fold plate and having an operative and an inoperative position thereon, and posi tioning means on said frame for automatically locating said fold plate in its operative position when the deflecting plate is in its inoperative position and for automatically locating said defleetng plate in its operative position and the fold plate in its inoperative position.

6. In a folding machine, the combination of a frame, feeding and folding means thereon, a fold plate slidable toward and away from said feeding and folding means, a detiecting member mounted on said fold plate and adapted to be moved either into deflecting position in front of said plate or into inr rative position thereon, and means operalive to stop the forward movement of said fold plate in one definite position when said deflecting member is in deflecting position and to stop said fold plate in a second definite position when said defiecting member is in inoperative position.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

LESLEY R. TUF'lb'. 

